NIGERIA—The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed US$2.3 million to improve access to essential malaria treatments in Nigeria and West Africa.
This investment will enable the purchase of 4.8 million doses of life-saving malaria tablets from Swiss Pharma Nigeria (Swipha), marking a landmark partnership to strengthen regional healthcare.
Facilitated through the U.S. Government’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), this effort underscores the United States’ commitment to advancing healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria.
The PMI initiative focuses on delivering critical support to vulnerable communities, helping ensure that effective malaria treatments are available to those most in need.
In recent years, Nigeria has struggled to provide affordable, high-quality medicines due to the high production costs and the limited capacity of many local pharmaceutical companies to meet global standards.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that less than 10% of medicines produced in sub-Saharan Africa meet international quality benchmarks.
This has significantly hindered local pharmaceutical companies’ ability to supply essential medicines, creating substantial barriers in areas such as malaria treatment and maternal and child health.
USAID has partnered with Swipha to address these issues, working toward WHO prequalification for sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) tablets, an essential treatment for malaria prevention during pregnancy.
This prequalification not only establishes Swipha as a quality leader within the region but also enhances Nigeria’s capacity to produce trusted medicines locally.
Swipha is now the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria and West Africa to achieve WHO prequalification for SP tablets, representing a critical step forward for the local pharmaceutical sector.
Swipha’s managing director, Frederic Lieutaud, highlighted USAID’s support as key to helping them reach this milestone.
He added that the WHO certification affirms their dedication to producing high-quality medicines and strengthens their capacity to scale production for both local and international markets.
With this certification, Swipha is well-positioned to meet the needs of international donors and procurement agencies, strengthening healthcare delivery across Nigeria and West Africa.
During a visit to Swipha’s facilities in Lagos, USAID Mission Director to Nigeria, Melissa Jones, expressed her pride in this collaboration, stating that this milestone highlights the power of partnership in transforming healthcare.
She emphasized USAID’s commitment to supporting local manufacturers, adding that their work with Swipha represents a significant step toward a healthier future for Nigeria.
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